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Chapter 1

           Commonsensepointsoutthefactthatthenovelist‘reader’whohasaplacetomaintainforhimselfinliteraturewouldnaturallyratherencourageworkthatislikelytoproveephemeral,thanthatwhichmightpossiblytakeahigherfootingthanhisown.Bethisasitmay,andhowevergoodorbadthesystem,itwasentirelyprejudicialtomeandmyliteraryoffspring.ThelastpublisherItriedwasakindlymanwholookedatmyshabbyclothesandgauntfacewithsomecommiseration.

           "I’msorry,"saidhe,"verysorry,butmyreadersarequiteunanimous.FromwhatIcanlearn,itseemstomeyouhavebeentooearnest.Andalso,rathersarcasticincertainstricturesagainstsociety.Mydearfellow,thatwon’tdo.Neverblamesociety—itbuysbooks!Nowifyoucouldwriteasmartlove-story,slightlyrisqué—evenalittlemorethanrisquéforthatmatter;thatisthesortofthingthatsuitsthepresentage."

           "Pardonme,"Iinterposedsomewhatwearily—"butareyousureyoujudgethepublictastecorrectly?"

           Hesmiledablandsmileofindulgentamusementatwhathenodoubtconsideredmyignoranceinputtingsuchaquery."OfcourseIamsure,"—hereplied—"ItismybusinesstoknowthepublictasteasthoroughlyasIknowmyownpocket.Understandme—Idon’tsuggestthatyoushouldwriteabookonanypositivelyindecentsubject—thatcanbesafelylefttothe‘New’woman,"—andhelaughed—"butIassureyouhigh-classfictiondoesn’tsell.Thecriticsdon’tlikeit,tobeginwith.

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